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| Sunday, 17 October 2004 |
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Features |  |
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Uniflow system : Oh for a smooth drive by Vimukthi Fernando and Umangi De Mel Traffic - vehicles moving at snails-pace, horns blaring, tempers fraying.... nightmare stuff for the average driver and commuter. And an all too real problem for the authorities. With over 700 vehicles hitting the roads each day, the two main cities, Colombo and Kandy have become victim to traffic congestions quite easily. Colombo, with its swollen arteries connecting the city centre to the periphery has become the bane, an unremovable obstacle in the path of productivity, in stark contrast to the boon it promised years ago. Peak-hour travelling is unavoidable for many, as work and school hours necessitates commuters to get on to the roads at particular times of day, specifically from 6.30 a.m. to 9.00 a.m., 4.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. and 1.30 to 2.30 p.m. in large numbers. On any given week day about 300,000 to 500,000 vehicles ply the Colombo roads. About 100,000 to 120,000 enter Colombo through the Galle Road, and R.A. De Mel Mawatha (Duplication Road) making them two of the busiest and most congested roads during this period. Given the urgent need for an organised traffic control system, the City Traffic Division of Police Headquarters introduced a uniflow traffic system from Kollupitiya Junction up to Dharmarama Mawatha at Wellawatte early last week. Trials were carried out on Sunday and Monday, when Colombo experiences its lowest and heaviest traffic. While many commuters and motorists welcomed the idea, residents down Duplication Road, businessmen and entrepreneurs eyed it with a degree of scepticism. Two relevant authorities, namely the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), and the National Transport Commission (NTC) who should have been the initiators of the scheme - virtually washed their hands off with the sentence, "We were not involved." The uniflow system was designed to have traffic flowing North to use six lanes on Galle Road from the Government Flats, Bambalapitiya to Kollupitiya junction, and those flowing South to use R.A.de Mel Mawatha (Duplication Road) from Liberty Plaza roundabout to Dharmarama Mawatha, Wellawatte. Of the 36 connecting roads, three were designated for two-way traffic and the rest one way, either towards or from Galle Road. The two days trial brought in certain unforeseen problems for which they will soon find alternatives said, Y.G.R.M. Lafir, SSP, City Traffic. School vans bringing in children to St. Peters and Muslim Ladies Colleges interrupted traffic at the Wellawatte end. Islands in the middle necessitated vehicles falling onto Galle Road from by lanes, near Dickman's Road to go south and take a 'U' turn at the Flats, slowing down the traffic flow. Overall, the exercise was successful, he said. The Police are awaiting public comment from commuters, bus drivers, residents and the business community in the next two weeks, said Gamini Silva, DIG Traffic. Thereafter, amended proposals will be forwarded to relevant authorities including the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of Transport, NTC, CMC, Private Bus Owners' Association (PBOA), Three Wheeler Drivers' Association (TWDA) and the business community, he said. Permanent measures will be implemented thereafter. Western Province Commuter Transport Authority (WPCTA) welcomed the move, with its Chairman, J.M.Somasiri saying that he had received many favourable comments on the traffic flow and personally experienced the ease it caused on traffic on Galle Road. Where the Duplication Road is concerned, it would have been good to establish proper bus halting places before the move, for it had caused difficulty to commuters. An amended plan, incorporating the views of organisations such as WPCTA and PBOA could become more acceptable, he opined. However "I do not know about Duplication Road, for I could not inspect the flow there," he said. Though difficulties might arise, initially, with time it will be accepted he opined. There are over 12,000 buses registered to carry out operations through Colombo and about 5,000 from the South, using Galle Road and other connecting roads, said Gamunu Wijerathne, President, PBOA. He was not very pleased with the trial being limited to just two days. "They should not have stopped it in two days, the time was not enough to find all the bottlenecks," he said. The increasing number of private vehicles on the roads, and the inability of the road network to cope are the main causes of traffic congestion. A problem common to many developing countries in South Asia, it is also solved in countries such as India and Thailand by using a uniflow traffic system. Though a commendable scheme, it could have been more acceptable to commuters using public transport if one lane on Galle Road was left for buses plying southward, he noted. Prof. Amal Kumarage, Chairman, NTC said that over one million passengers and 150,000 private vehicles come in to Colombo every day. Out of this, 20 per cent is public transport carrying about 73 per cent of commuters, 10 percent carry goods and the rest, 70 per cent in all are private vehicles carrying about 27 per cent of commuters. Much of the traffic congestion is based on private vehicles. Mostly two types of traffic cause this problem. The school traffic overlapping the peak office hours and the impact created by vehicles of shoppers, due to lack of parking space. The ban on parking on Galle Road, on the sea side during the morning peak hours and on the land side in the evening enforced early this year, brought a daily saving of over two million rupees, he noted. NTC was not involved in the present uniflow scheme, he said. Colombo has the potential to employ a uniflow system. However, it has to be employed in stages, progressing outwards from the centre (Fort), he opined. From the authorities Effective use and proper management of road space, is one way to reduce traffic congestion suggests Prof. Amal Kumarage, Chairman, NTC, proposing staggering/flexible working hours. A survey of a 10,000 workforce in 200 establishments has been carried out recently and the NTC is analysing the data. Based on the analysis, proposals will be presented to the government in the near future, he said. Making efficient use of public transport, is another method. NTC plans to introduce 100 school buses and 100 office buses from January next year with some state assistance, he said. A fund created with a fuel surcharge of Rs.2 within Colombo will contribute to improvements to the transport available. This is one way to attract people towards public transport and out of the present system. However, there may not be a major shift, we are not having high expectations he said. Gamunu Wijerathne, President, PBOA suggests improvements to public transport system including railways, to reduce traffic congestion. Using the road network on 'shifts' for different categories of vehicles, is another way to ease traffic congestion, he suggests. Heavy vehicles such as lorries, trippers and containers are slow and promote congestion during daytime though they are already banned on some roads, for a limited time. A complete ban during the day and allowing these vehicles on roads only during the night - from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. will also help a great deal, he suggests. The PBOA is ready to provide transport facilities commuters whose work is connected with this change of transport times for goods vehicles. It's good and it's bad - Public reaction Ranjith Premaratne, Boutique owner The system seems to be working and it seems to reduce the traffic block. True it seems a bit different from what it used to be and it's a bit noisy and busy. Duplication Road is usually nice and easy and the residents might feel that it's not so any more but people should be more down to earth and practical. The only hitch is that shop owners will lose business, because there is hardly any parking space. **** Pradeepan, Commuter We can easily get to work places on time. It used to be a mad rush during peak hours and getting to office on time was merely a dream but now traffic has been reduced and one can peacefully get to his destination without delay. I don't think most people who only travel in buses haven't even seen what the Duplication stretch is like. This way people get to come across all the shops and other important places along R. A. de Mel Mawatha. That might benefit shops. This system is good and we hope it works. ***** P. A. Ranjith - Motorist The system looks pretty successful. During rush hours, especially commuters can easily board buses. The system has been well planned, as the 'one way' system makes life easier for us. Traffic is reduced and I don't see any parking difficulties either. True, their is limited parking, but this way it reduces unwanted hassle. The people who want to park will somehow find space. ***** Odette of 'Moments' Shop-keeper I don't approve of the system. It hinders the progress of our sales. Business will drop because, hardly anybody walked in to purchase. I watched from morning and the shops were deserted. Lack of parking space put customers off and Duplication Road is pretty much congested. Traffic may be less but it's not only traffic, that you've got to consider. People are trying to do their businesses as well. **** Sales team at Archies'/Uthum Pathum It's very difficult to cross the road. Yet the traffic seems to be less. It's better if we could get a few more yellow lines close by and have more parking space for customers. Actually customers have already complained about not being able to park their vehicles. If customers feel reluctant to hunt for parking space, it becomes our problem as we'll run short of business. The system seems to be good, yet we need to wait and see if it works or not. **** Benjamin Money of 'Sparkle' - shop manager People are pretty confused not knowing where to park or how to get on to the Galle Road. If somebody wants to go to The Galle Road to purchase something, it becomes quite a big problem as it is not convenient getting there any more. We are not allowed to park. Earlier, we could park on both sides. It will take sometime for people to get used to it, until then there will be a drop in business. **** Pubudu Alwis - Trishaw driver It's a bit too early to comment, as it is only the second day after the uniflow system was introduced. Looking at these two days, I feel that the system will work. The only hitch is that you can't turn wherever you want, as the roads are one way. For us, parking is not a problem nor the noise but it could be a bit inconvenient for residents. Customers can be easily put off because they lack parking space. ***** Nilu Jeewaratne - resident I'm a resident of Walukarama Road, and it's a big hassle getting to the Galle Road. I've got to go near the British Council to come to Galle Road. Earlier, getting onto the Galle Road was much easier. Now I have to take my child to school in a trishaw and walk back. With the fuel cost being high, having to go another three km to get into your house is quite a problem for us. Traffic nevertheless, is flowing. There's no choc-a-bloc now. If only they could do something about those who live down these lanes... |
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